Speaker to examine action against Opp for shouting anti-govt slogans
Walkout by Congress uncalled for: Conrad
Shillong, Sept 15: Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh will examine whether shouting of slogans by members of the opposition Congress in the corridors of the Assembly attracts any action.
“I was told they were shouting slogans in the corridors of the Assembly,” Lyngdoh told reporters on Wednesday.
The opposition members had staged a walkout as a mark of protest against the decision of the Speaker to disallow a short duration discussion on the demand for suspension of the top police officials in connection with the killing of the former HNLC leader Cherishstarfield Thangkhiew.
They shouted anti-government slogans in the corridors of the Assembly while they came out of the House.
When asked if action will be taken, the Speaker said, “Let me verify on that then accordingly I will examine before taking any decision.”
Regarding rejection of discussion on the matter, Lyngdoh said that he got a letter from the home department saying that the matter will attract rule 59 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the walkout staged by the opposition Congress was uncalled for.
“It was not proper I should say on that issue. The walkout shouldn’t have been there,” Sangma said.
“As for walkout, it is a normal practice as they have the right but in terms of the issue, the Speaker had mentioned the reason why it was not being allowed as it was based on rule 59 …that any subject under a judiciary or a quasi-judicial enquiry is subjudice and cannot be taken up during the session,” the chief minister said.
On the allegation of Congress that the government was adamant to prevent any discussion on the issue, Sangma said, “There is no question of blaming the government for not allowing, we don’t run the Assembly, it is being run by the Speaker.”
The chief minister also rejected the claim of the Congress that the issue of suspension is not connected with the judicial inquiry.
“That particular reason for which they were demanding suspension of officers is linked to the inquiry so obviously it doesn’t require a rocket science for one to realise that this demand for suspension is linked to the inquiry and therefore it is sub-judice in nature,” he said.
